Whether you play online or in-person, virtual tabletops are indispensable tools to immerse your group in gameplay and streamline combat and exploration. D&D Beyond has two VTTs to help you prep less so you can play more: Maps, a 2D VTT that seamlessly syncs to your D&D Beyond library, and Sigil, an immersive 3D VTT with deep integration to D&D Beyond and world-building and mini-making tools.

In this article, we'll break down how both of these tools can supplement your games so you can focus on the adventure at hand!

• Maps: The 2D Virtual Tabletop (VTT)
• Sigil: The Immersive 3D Virtual Tabletop (VTT)

Maps: The 2D Virtual Tabletop (VTT)

The Maps 2D VTT is designed to make it easy to bring you and your friends together for tactical adventures, whether you're playing in-person or online.

Play Today with a Master Tier Subscription

Master Tier subscribers get access to the Maps 2D VTT in addition to the other benefits of their subscription, including book content sharing with party members, unlimited character slots, perks, and early access to book releases.

Seamlessly Sync to Your D&D Beyond Library

You can seamlessly add maps and monster tokens from the books in your D&D Beyond library to your Maps digital playspace. The Token Browser lets you filter monsters by creature type, size, Challenge Rating, and source, making it easy to find the perfect foe for your encounter.

Your Maps session is linked to your campaign, so players can join effortlessly without a subscription. You can add player tokens with ease, and every roll from their D&D Beyond character sheet automatically appears in the Game Log, alongside rolls from monster stat blocks in Maps. This keeps everything in one place, so you can track every Dexterity (Stealth) check, saving throw, and Critical Hit together!

You can also make Maps work for you, no matter how you run your sessions! You can upload custom maps to bring each unique session to life, whether using maps from official sources, ones you've found online, or hand-drawn creations.

Streamline Your Games with Handy Tools

Maps is packed with features to make running encounters smoother than ever. With these tools at your fingertips, you can focus less on logistics and more on the adventure!

• Fog of War: This feature lets you control what your players can see, allowing you to reveal new areas as they explore and keep the unknown shrouded in mystery.
• Ruler and Pointer: These tools help you and your players measure distances, plan movement, and strategize your next move.
• Overlays: These add extra layers of detail to your maps, letting you track environmental effects, hazards, or area-of-effect spells at a glance.

Prep and Run Encounters with Ease

Maps gives you the tools to build and run your encounters, whether you're planning ahead or improvising on the fly. The Maps combat encounter tool uses the XP budget method from the new Dungeon Master's Guide to craft balanced battles that will challenge your party.

Then, you can easily start combat with all the tokens on the map with a single click, making sure your session doesn't lose steam when you dramatically declare, “Roll for Initiative!”

You can also track Hit Points and roll directly from monster stat blocks, keeping turns action-packed and running smoothly.

Sigil: The Immersive 3D Virtual Tabletop (VTT)

With the Sigil 3D VTT, you can experience D&D in an epic immersive environment. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Sigil provides intuitive tools to run your game, build your world, and create miniatures.

This VTT features deep integration with D&D Beyond and can allow you to connect to your whole party for a multiplayer experience!

Play Today with a Free D&D Beyond Account

You can dive into Sigil with a free D&D Beyond account* and experience its immersive VTT, world-building, and token-making tools. You can gain the ability to host multiplayer games and unlock additional bonus content, builder kits, and mini customization options with a Master Tier subscription.

* If your D&D Beyond account was created using Apple, Google, or Twitch, you will be prompted to create a Wizards account when launching Sigil.

Immerse Your Table in Epic Dungeons & Dragons Adventures

The Sigil 3D VTT allows you to craft breathtaking digital environments for your campaign. From deadly dungeons and creepy crypts to whimsical fey forests, build immersive locations using an extensive library of assets, textures, and lighting effects.

For those just starting or looking for a quick adventure, Sigil comes with the introductory adventure Danger at Dunbarrow. This premade adventure is perfect for groups new to the Sigil VTT to run an immersive session with minimal preparation.

When you start hosting a game with your Master Tier subscription, everyone in your group can join in the fun. Each player can connect through their free D&D Beyond account, making it easy to integrate characters and stats. Players can view and interact with the maps you create in real-time, so you can share in the fun together!

Bring Your Game to Life

Sigil's mini builder tool lets you create and customize 3D representations of your characters by adjusting your miniatures' poses, armor, weapons, and accessories to bring out their unique personality!

When it comes time to harness the forces of magic, Sigil brings spells to life with dynamic animations. Watch as your Sorcerer blankets the battlefield in fire or Cleric channels divine energy to bolster your allies' strength.

Sigil also includes digital dice that roll across the 3D environment, allowing your party to celebrate every successful hit and rally around every near miss.

Start Playing Today

Whether you're looking for a simple, streamlined way to run tactical encounters or an immersive 3D environment to bring your world to life, D&D Beyond has you covered.

Maps provides a fast and easy way to integrate battle maps, track Initiative, and manage encounters, making it perfect for both in-person and online sessions. Sigil, on the other hand, offers a full digital sandbox with world-building tools, animated spell effects, and customizable miniatures, bringing the magic of the tabletop to a shared virtual space.

Try them both and see how they can help you prep less so you can play more today!

Mike Bernier is the founder of Arcane Eye, a site focused on providing useful tips and tricks to all those involved in the world of D&D. Outside of writing for Arcane Eye, Mike spends most of his time playing games, hiking with his partner, and tending the veritable jungle of houseplants that have invaded his house.